Graduate School of Intercultural Communication

In today's globalized society, where diverse cultures and languages meet, communication between peoples from different cultural backgrounds is indispensable for a sustainable future of humankind. In light of this view, the natural environment must also be included in the study of culture and communication. This concept defines the Graduate School of Intercultural Communication, which offers studies in four areas of study: Language Communication, Interpreting and Translation, Intercultural Communication, and Environmental Communication. The objective of the Graduate School is to create an innovative approach to intercultural communication studies by integrating research in these four fields. In April 2004, the Graduate School added a doctoral program to an already existing MA program. As a graduate school which welcomes working students as well, classes are offered in the evenings and on Saturdays, along with intensive courses during the break (August, September, December and January).

In 2005, the Graduate School of Intercultural Communication was awarded a Good Practice grant for its outstanding program of "Research Workshops for a Sustainable Future: Toward New Challenges in Intercultural Communication Studies" by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Field of Study: Intercultural Communication

Daytime and evening course structures

Students focusing their studies in the field of Intercultural Communication can acquire specialized certification as middle school teachers of social studies, as well as specialized certification as high school teachers of civics. Those focusing on Language Communication can acquire specialized certification as middle and high school teachers of English.

Students may also select Themed Research provided that the content of their study is of a standard equivalent to that of a doctoral thesis.